Inter-State Athletics C'ships: Jyothi Yarraji returns as athletes eye Asian Games quotas - Preview

The 65th National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships is slated to begin at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar from Wednesday.

The 5-day event will have 45 medal events and will also serve as a final qualifier for the upcoming Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026.

A few of the star athletes, Jyothi Yarraji (Hurdles), Parul Chuadhary (Steeplechase) and Gulveer Singh (Middle Distance Running), will return to the domestic competition.

Gulveer and Parul were training outside India and are now returning to India to confirm their place in the Indian team, while Jyothi is returning after a long break due to an ACL injury.

Meanwhile, two of India's medal hopefuls, Sachin Yadav and Avinash Sable, are set to miss this event as they are currently going through injury rehabilitation.

Other star athletes Murali Sreeshankar, Animesh Kujur, Tajinderpal Singh Toor and Praveen Chithravel will also be in action at this elite event in Bhubaneswar.

Schedule for 2026 Inter-State C'ships (Only Finals)

24 June

5:30 AM - Men's 5,000m (Asiad QM - 13:39.18s)

4:30 PM - Men's Pole Vault (Asiad QM - 5.45m)

5:55 PM - Women's Triple Jump (Asiad QM - 13.34m)

6:20 PM - Women's Hammer Throw (Asiad QM - 61.72m)

7:20 PM - Women's 5,000m (Asiad QM - 15:36.58s)

7:55 PM - Women's 100m Hurdles (Asiad QM - 13.34s)

25 June

5:15 AM - Half Marathon Racewalk Men 

4:45 PM - Women's Pole Vault (Asian Games QM - 4.10m)

6:20 PM - Men's Discus Throw (Asian Games QM - 60.13m)

6:30 PM - Women's Shot Put (Asian Games QM - 16.25m)

6:40 PM - Women's 800m (Asian Games QM - 2:05.21s)

6:50 PM - Men's 800m (Asian Games QM - 1:48.80s)

7:05 PM - Men's Decathlon (Asian Games QM - 7250 Points)

7:20 PM - Women's 200m (Asian Games QM - 23.70s)

7:30 PM - Men's 200m (Asian Games QM - 20.88s)

26 June

5:15 AM - Women's Half Marathon Racewalk

4:40 PM - Hammer Throw Men (Asian Games QM - 69.12m)

5:20 PM - Men's 110m Hurdles (Asian Games QM - 13.63s)

6:00 PM - Women's Discus Throw (Asian Games QM - 55.48m)

6:05 PM - 4*400m Mixed Relay (Asian Games QM - 3:26.81s)

6:10 PM - Men's Triple Jump (Asian Games QM - 16.28m)

6:25 PM - Women's 4*100m Relay (Asian Games QM - 45.24s)

6:35 PM - Men's 4*100m Relay (Asian Games QM - 38.81s)

27 June

4:00 PM - Men's 400m Hurdles (Asian Games QM - 49.41s)

4:20 PM - Women's 400m Hurdles (Asian Games QM - 57.21s)

5:10 PM - Men's High Jump (Asian Games QM - 2.19m)

5:20 PM - Women's Javelin Throw (Asian Games QM - 57.62m)

6:05 PM - Men's Shot Put (Asian Games QM - 19.41m)

6:10 PM - Women's Long Jump (Asian Games QM - 6.48m)

6:30 PM - Men's 1500m (Asian Games QM - 3:42.00s)

6:40 PM - Women's 1500m (Asian Games QM - 4:19.45s)

7: 20 PM - Men's 100m (Asian Games QM - 10.16s)

7: 30 PM - Women's 100m (Asian Games QM - 11.54s)

28 June

5:30 AM - Women's 10,000m (Asian Games QM - 33:50.00s)

5:00 PM - Women's High Jump (Asian Games QM - 1.80m)

5:50 PM - Men's Javelin Throw (Asian Games QM - 77.87m)

6:00 PM - Men's Long Jump (Asian Games QM - 7.91m)

6:10 PM - Men's 400m (Asian Games QM - 45.97s)

6:20 PM - Women's 400m (Asian Games QM - 53.72s)

6:30 PM - Women's Heptathlon (Asian Games QM - 5605 Points)

6:45 PM - Men's 3000m Steeplechase (Asian Games QM - 8:36.57s

7:00 PM - Women's 3000m Steeplechase (Asian Games QM - 9:47.53s)

7:20 PM - Women's 4*400m Relay (Asian Games QM - 3:31.23s)

7:30 PM - Men's 4*400m Relay (Asian Games QM - 3:04.23s)

7:45 PM - Men's 10,000m (Asian Games QM - 29:00.00s)

Where to Watch?

All the action from the 2026 Senior National Inter-State Athletics Championships will be available on AFI's official YouTube Channel.